Electric-switch-operating mechanism



Oct. 1, 1929. c. D. AINSWORTH 1,729,359

ELECTRIC SWITCH OPERATING IECHANISI Filed Dec. 15. 1922 s Sheets-Sheet 1Oct. 1, 1929. c, uswo -n- 1,729,859

ELECTRIC SWITCH OPERATING IECHANISI Filed Dec. 13. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 2w I. ,w x 73 0 23 ,2

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Oct. 1, 1929. c. D. AmswoRTH 1,729,859

ELECTRIC SWITCH OPERATING IECHANIS" Filed Dec. 13. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5M D-W Patented on. '1, aces CHESTER D. MNSWGETE, 6F WQLLAS r ms;

TGIF, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNDB, BY

ASSIGNMENTS, T CONDIT ELECTEZCAL EIIANUFACTURING CORPORATION, OF BOS-TON, MASSACHUSETTS, A. GGRPORATION @F MASSACHUSETTSTEEGTBEC-SW'XTCE-QPERATIN MECHANISM Application filed Becemcer 13, 922.Serial No. 608,678.

This invention relates to electric switches and has particular referenceto manually and electrically controlled mechanisms for operating saidswitches.

An object of this invention is to provide an electric switch withoperating mechanism in-' cluding means to lock the switch in closedposition and tripping means so arranged as to be controlled by any oneor all of a plurality 0t tripping coils.

A further object of the invention is to provide switch operatingmechanism arranged for both electrically controlled, automatic operationand manually controlled operation with manually controlled means toeffect the opening of the switch at automatic speed, whereby to preventthe switch from being opened slowly.

A further object of the invention is to provide the switch operatingmechanism with an auxiliary signal switch which may be operatedautomatically with the main switch and also manually and may be lockedin open position.

A further object is generally to improve the construction and operationof electric switches and operating mechanisms therefor.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a face plate for an electric switchbearing the switch operating mechanism embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view in section taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional detail through the coil box of the faceplate.

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 but with certain parts removed toillustrate the method of removing the tripping coils from the coil box.

Fig. 5 is a detail illustrating the mechanism for the auxiliary signalswitch.

Fig. 6 is a view of the switch operating mechanism associated with anoil switch.

As here shown, the switch operating mechanism embodying the inventionincludes a face plate 10 which is adapted to be mounted upon somesuitable vertical support 11 by suitable means as the bolts 12. Saidbolts extend through said support 11 and secure to said support asuitable bracket 13 to which a bell crank lever 14 is pivoted. Said'bellcrank lever is actuated by the switch operating mechanism to move a rod15 which is connected in a suitable manner to an electric switch 16,Fig. 6, which is remotely disposed with respect to said face plate. Apair of links 17 are secured in spaced relation to opposite sides ofsaid bell crank lever 14 and extend through apertures in said support 11and face plate 12 and are pivotally connected with a switch-operatinglever 18. lhe lower portion of said face plate 10 is formed to providean enclosure or tripping-coil box 19 and the front wall of said coil boxis formed or provided with projections 20; and the lower end of saidlever 18 is pivotally supported on a pin 21 which is passed through saidprojections 20. Said lever 18 is adapted to be moved about its pivotalsupport to etl'ect the opening and closing of the switch.

An operating handle 22 is provided by which the switch may be closedmanually-and, in accordance with this invention, means are providedwhich are so arranged that said operating-handle can not be manipulatedto open the switch manually. Said operating handle includes the spacedbars 23 which are pivot-ally mounted on the pin 21 on opposite sides ofsaid lever 18. Means are provided by which said lever 18 andconsequently the switch operating mechanism are connected releasablywith said handle.- Said means includes the bracket 25 which is securedto and between said bars 23 of the handle. A. tripping latch 24 ispivoted on a pin 25 carried by said bracket. Said lever 18 is providedwith a cam roller 26 rotatably supported at the upper portion thereofand said latch 24 is adapted to engage said cam roller releasably. Saidoperating handle is adapted to be locked releasably in switch-closedposition and said latch 24- is adapted to be actuated both manually andelectrically. Said lever 18 and the links 1? connected therewith areadapted to be moved outwardly between the bars 23 of said handle by theweight of the switch mechanism, or pressure of the switch-openingsprings, to switch open position. Said operating handle is adapted to besubsequently unlocked and moved towards the left, Fig. l, to

effect the reengagement of said latch 24 with the lever 18 whereby topermit the switch to be closed manually.

The operating handle locking means includes the latch 80 which isdisposed in aslot in the arms 31 which are extended outwardly from theface plate 10; and said latch is pivoted on a pin 32ccarried by saidarms. Said latch is adapted to engage a projection, as the cam roller85, of said operating handle and hold said handle in substantiallyvertical or switch-closed position as shown in Fi 1, and when movedupward, to release said handle and permit it to be moved outwardly byits own weight, or manually to eflect the reengagement of said handlewith the lever 18 of the switch operating mechanism. Said handle-lockinglatch is restricted in its movements by a pin 34 which extends betweenthe arms 31 of said face plate and through an enl ar ed hole 36 in saidlatch. Said latch is norma ly spring pressed into handle holdingposition by the coil spring 37 and said spring is disposed in the slotbetween said arms 31 and is supported on a pin 38 connecting said arms.Said spring bears against the bottom wall of said slot and the upperportion of said latch above the pivot pin 32 there- The operatingmechanism is so arranged that the switch can not be opened by the handlebut must be =ripped open whereby to release the switch mechanism fromthe handle and the mechanism is so arranged that the act of tripping theswitch member also serves to release the handle-locking latch 30 fromholding engagement witi the operating" handle. For this 'OurP Sc latchis provided 1 7 x with suitable menueable means as the pin d0 whic 32 iJ1 i c J: a posite sides or d by the loclnng operation handle ou'twarcneed be required to ope o is thus seen that .ndle can not beconveniently unlocked the switch l been tripped and the tripping of theswitch by the manual raising of the latch causes the switch to open atthe same speed that it opens when automatically tripped. This result ishighly advantageous in that it prevents a slow opening of the switch andconsequently reduces the probability of burningthe switch contacts andotherwise causing damage.

lhe electric switch tripping mechanism comprises a plurality of trippingcoils; and the mechanism is so arranged that each trip coil by itself iseffective to trip the switch. As here shown, the coil box 19 of the faceplate is of more or less triangular cross section and is adapted tocontain three trip coils 45, each of which is contained in a phase of athree phase circuit and acts to trip the switch upon overload in itsrespective phase or one or more of said coils may be otherwise arrangedto control the switch under different circumstances.

Said coil box 19 is so arranged that the coils may be removed andreplaced without removing the face plate from its support or otherwisealtering the arrangement of the mechanism.

For this purpose, the bottom wall 46 of said face plate is provided withan aperture 47 therethrough which is disposed preferably at the apexportion of the coil box; and said aperture is adapted to be at least asgreat in diameteras said coils whereby to permit entrance of said coilsto and their removal from said coil box. Said aperture 47 is normallyclosed by a plate 4.8 which'is adapted to enter said aperture and besubstantially flush with the inner face of the wall 46; and screws 49,or other suitable attaching means, extend through the flange 50 of saidplate whereby to secure said plate to the coil box.

Said trip coils it include the center tubes, 51 upon which the coils areformed and the ibes which are adapted to be loosely re 1 said tubes 51;and the movable J" the coils are received in said tubes o s are providedwith reduced upper portions which .to am ouch openings I T .s W are t io .(icd y o secure them rewith a spring plate 65.

messes with the triangularly disposed slots 61 therein which are locatedin the apices thereof and the grooved heads 62 of pins 63 are looselyreceived in said slots. Said pins 63 are slidably supported in thestandards 56 and are adapted to extend through said standards into theinterior of the tubes 52 ot' the tripping coils and be engaged by thecores 52 of said tripping coils and raised vertically whereby to raisesaid tripping plate 60, and trip the switch. Said pins 63 constitutetripodal supporting means for said plate and the arrangement of saidplate and pins 63 is such that said plate is loosely, yet securely,supported on said pins and may fulcrum about any two thereof, when oneor more pins are raised. Said plate 60 is disposed beneath and inoperative relation with the latch 24 and is adapted to engage and raisethe inher end ozt said latch when one or more of saidcoils i5 iseffectively energized whereby to effect the tripping of the switch.Preferably, said tripping plate 60 is provided Said spring plate isadapted to engage the latch 24 and may be raised to varying positionsabove the plate 60 by suitable means, as by the adjusting screw 66,whereby to admit of slight variations of dimensions in the manufactureof the mechanism. Said plate 60 is provided with the apertures 60, whichare screwthreaded, by which auxiliary apparatus as, for instance, anunder voltage release attachment, not shown: may be arranged tocontrolthe tripping of the switch, in addition to the tripping COIlS hereinillustrated.

Said latch 24 is bifurcated as by being provided with the spacedextensions 2& secured to and disposed on opposite sides of the body ofsaid latch. Said latch-extensions are so arranged that the latch is ineffective position to be actuated by the tripping plate when theoperating handle and lever 18 are being moved towards switch-closedposition so that the switch is tripped free from the handle and restoredto open position if an overload is present on the circuit controlled bythe switch when the contacts thereof are brought into engagement.

An auxiliary or signal switch is associated with the operating mechanismwhereby to give audible or other signal of the opencircuitcondit on ofthe switch. Said auxiliary switch includes the insulated contact membersone of which is shown in Fig. I. Said contact members are mounted on aninsulating block 71 which is secured to a supporting member 72; and saidsupporting member is secured to the support 11 between said support andthe bracket 13. A link or rod 7 3 is disposed between the links or rods17 of the operating mechanism and said link 73 is provided with a slot74 in which is disposed the pin 75 which connects said links 17 with thebell. crank lever 14. Said link 73 is the inner end of said arm and oneof said standards 56 and thereby serves to draw the outer end of theslot 7% in said link ..73.

against the pin 75 whereby to bias said auniliary switch toward closedposition.

A latch is pivoted to said lever 79 and one end of said latch is adaptedto be disposed between the extensions 24 of the latch 24 and lie over orbe disposed in operative relation with the tripping plate 60. The otherend of said latch is adapted to engage a projection 86 of the faceplate. The arrangement of said auxiliary switch operating mechanism issuch that the latch 85 is tripped simultaneously with the latch 24 andthereby releases the auxiliary switch operating mech" anism for movementconjointly with the movement of the main switch mechanism whereby toclose the auxiliary signalicircuit when the main switch is open. Saidslot 7% in the link 78 is so disposed that when the switch operatingmechanism is operated to close the main switch said auxiliary switchmechanism is also actuated to move to open position and the latch 85serves to lock said mechanism in closed position. With this arrangementthe auxiliary signal circuit is controlled simultaneously with the mainswitch. lVhemhowcver it is desired to leave the main switch in openposition, said lever 79 of the auxiliary switch operating mechanism maybe operated manually to move the lever 85 into locking engagement withthe face plate 10 whereby to maintain open the auxiliary signal circuit.

The structure may be otherwise modified without departing fromthe spiritof the invention as, for instance, said tripping latch 24 may bereplaced by a toggle.

I claim:

1. Electric switch operating mechanism comprising a normally vertical,pivoted switch-operating lever, a switch operating rod connectedthereto, a normally vertical operating handle disposed about said lever,

a tripping latch carried by said handle an ranged normally to connectsaid lever with said handle in switch closed position and to releasesaid lever to permit said lever and rod to move through said handle toswitch-' open position electro-magnetic tripping means for said trippinglatch, and locking means for the handle disposed and arranged itsnormally to release the handle only after the switch has been trippedopen.

2. Electric switch operating mechanism comprising a face-plate adaptedfor vertical mounting, a switc -operating lever pivoted to the lower endof said face-plate and extended upwardly above its pivot, an operatinghandle pivoted to said face-plate concentrically with said switchcrating lever, a latch carried by said han e and arranged normally tolock said switch-operating lever to said handle, a second latch disposedabove said first latch and arranged to lock said operating handlereleasably to said faceplate, and electrically-actuated tripping meansfor said first latch only disposed beneath said first latch.

3. Electric switch operating mechanism comprising an operating handle, aswitch operating member, a latch arranged releasably to lock said handlein switch-closed position, a manually operable tripping latch carriedbysaid handle arranged releasably to engage said operating member andconnect it with said handle and constructed and arranged, when trippedmanually, to operate said handle-locking latch, andelectrically-actuated tripping means for said tripping itch.

ctric switch operating mechanism ng operating handle, a switch oprnber,means arranged to connect -eans arranged releasably e s sir-closedposition -9215 arranged to o means release ilie s of said handle, saidseco i s also arranged manually to open the switch and unlock saidhandle.

2. Electric switch operating mechanism comprising an operating handle, aswitch operating member, atripping latch carried by said handle arrangedreleasably to engage said operating member, a latch arranged to holdsaid handle releasably in switch-closed position regardless of theposition of said switch. operating member, said handle-holding latcharranged normally to be tripped only by manual operation of saidtripping latch, and a spring arranged yieldingly to urge saidhandle-holding latch in handleengaging position.

8. Electric switch operating mechanism comprising a switch-operatingmember, holding means for said operating member, a tripping member forsaid holding member having a plurality of singularly-related fulcrumsupports characterized by permitting said tripping member to oscillatein any one of a plurality of difi'erent vertical planes, and a trippingdevice arranged to actuate said tripping member and cause it to fulcrumabout certain of its supports.

9. Electric switch operating mechanism comprising a switch operatingmember, holding means for said operatin member a tripping member forsaid holding member having a plurality of fulcrum supports characterizedby permitting said tripping member to oscillate in any one of aplurality of different vertical planes, and a tripping device arrangedto actuate one of said supports whereby to fulcrum said tripping memberabout others of said fulcrum supports and trip said holding means.

10. Electric switch operating mechanism comprising a switch operatingmember, holding means for said operating member, a trip ping member forsaid holding member having a plurality of fulcrum supports characterizedby permitting said tripping member to oscillate in any one of pluralityof vertical planes, and a plurality of g devices each arranged umsupport, where y 1 in r and :sa'la ioldin gmer bcr if. g a plu ofsingularly-rein. supports about any two of which said tripping member isadapted to fulcrum, and a plurality of trip ping coils each adapted tobe independently energized and to actuate a different support. wherebyto actuate said tripping member and trip said holding means.

13. Electric switch operating mechanism comprising a switch operatingmember, hold ing means for said operating member, a trip ping member forsaid holding member comality Ella ica

prising a plate having a plurality of fulcrumsupport engaging means, aplurality of fulcrum-supports arranged in loose engagement with saidengaging means, at least one of said supports being movable, and atripping device arranged to move said movable fulcrumsupport, whereby toactuate said plate and trip said\holding means.

14. Electric switch operating mechanism comprising a switch-operatingmember, holding means for said operating member, a tripping member forsaid holding member com prising a plate having a plurality-ofangularly-related fulcrum-support engaging means, a plurality of movablefulcrum-supports arranged in loose engagement with said engag ing means,and a tripping coil for each fulcrum-support, each coil arrangedindependently to actuate its fulcrum-support, whereby to actuate saidplate and trip said holding means. 7

15. Electric switch operating mechanism comprising a switch-operatingmember, holding means for said operating member, a trip ping plateadapted to trip said holding means, said plate havingtriangularly-arranged fulcrum-support engaging means,triangularly-disposed fulcrum-supports arranged in engagement with saidengaging means and about any two of which said plate is adapted tofulcrum, and a tripping device arranged to raise one of said fulcrumsupports, whereby to raise said plate and trip holding .means.

16. Electric switch operatingmechanism comprising a switch-operatingmember, holding means for said operating member, a ti:1p ping memberadapted to trip said holding means, supporting means for saidtrippingmember, and actuating means for said tripping member including means toraise said member bodily oil and also to tilt it on said supportingmember, whereby to trip said holding means.

17. Electric switch operating mechanlsm comprising a switch-operatingmember, holding means for said operating mechanism, a tripping memberfor said holding means comprising a plate, supporting means for saidplate, and actuating means for said plate, said supporting and actuatingmeans arranged to raise said plate bodily oflf and also to tilt saidplate angularly on said supporting means, whereby to trip said holdingmeans. a

18. Electric switch operating mechanism comprising a switch-operatingmember, holding means for said operating member, a tripping plateadapted to trip said holding means, said plate havingtriangularly-arranged fulcrum-support engaging slots, triangularlydisposed fulcrum-supports disposed loosely in said slots in supportingrelation with said plate, said plate adapted to fulcrum about any two ofsaid supports, and a tripping device arranged to raise one of saidfulcrum-supports whereby to tilt said plate about said otherfulcrum-supports and trip said holding means.

19. Electric switch operating mechanism comprising a switch-operatingmember, hold-' 20. Electric switch operating mechanism comprising aswitch-operating member, holding means for said operating member, atripping plate adapted to trip said holding means, said plate havingtriangularly-arranged fulcrum-support engaging slots,triangularly-disposcd movable fulcrum-supports disposed loosely in saidslots in supporting relation with said plate and about any two of whichsupports said plate is adapted to fulcrum, said supports also arrangedconjointly to hold said plate against disengagement therewith, and aplurality of tripping coils having movable cores arranged to raise saidsupports, whereby to actuate said plate and trip said holding means.

21. Electric switch-operating mechanism comprising a switch-operatingmember, holding means for said member, a plurality oftriangularly-disposed tripping coils having movable cores, a trippingplate disposed above said coils and adapted to be actuated and trip saidholding means, said plate having triangularly disposed slots therein,and triangularly-disposed movable fulcrum supports received loosely insaid slots and arranged conjointly to support said plate movably andhold it against detachment therefrom, said cores of said tripping coilsarranged to actuate said supports and raise said plate, whereby to tripsaid holding means.

22. Electric switch operating mechanism comprising a switch-operatingmember, holding means for said member comprising a latch, a coil boxdisposed below said latch, a plurality of tripping coils disposed intriangular order in said box, standards carried by said box above saidcoils, fulcrum-supports comprising rods slidably received in saidstandards and extended into said coils, a tripping plate adapted toengage and trip said latch, said plate having triangularly-disposedslots therein in which said rods are received and by which said plate issupported for bodily upward movement and also for angular movement aboutany two rods, and cores movably disposed in said tripping coils arrangedto raise said support, whereby to actuate said tripping plate.

to adjust the position of said resilient 23. Electric switch operatingmechanism comprising a tripping latch, and a tripping alate ada ted tobe actuated to tri said latch said plate having a latch-engagin membersaid handle adapted releasably to engag said lever, and a tri Ag devicefor said latch, said latch havin projection adapted to be disposed in.operative relation with said ing device in intermediate positions oisaid handle.

25. The combination or" separate operating members for two switches,tripping latches associated with said members, one of said latcheshaving a bifurcated extension and said other latch disposed within thefurcations thereof, and a tripping device common to and arranged toactuate said latches simultaneously.

26. The combination of a main switch and an auxiliary switch, meanssimultaneously to close and open the main switch and open and close theauxiliary switch in the order named, and means including a lost motionconnection between said switches to permit one of said switches to openindependently of said other switch,

27. The combination of a main switch, an auxiliary switch biased towardclosed position, means simultaneously to open and close the main switchand close and open the auxiliary switch, means to open said auxiliaryswitch independently of said main switch, and means to lock saidauxiliary switch open.

28. The combination of a main switch, an auxiliary switch biased towardclosed position, means releasably to hold said auxiliary switch againstsuch movement, and means governed by said main switch to govern theoperation of said auxiliary switch.

29. The combination of a main switch, an auxiliary switch biased towardclosed position, and means governed by said main switch to govern theoperation of said auxiliary switch, and manually controlled means tolock said auxiliary switch open.

30. The combination of a lever, substantially parallel main andauxiliary switchoperating rods pivotally connected with said lever, saidauxiliary switch-operating rod having lost-motion connection with saidlever, operating handles connected with said rods, latches for holdingsaid rods in set position, and a single tripping member for saidlatches.

31. Electric switch operating'mechanism comprising the combination of aplate formed to provide a box adapted to contain tripping coils, a leverpivoted to the front wall of said box and extended thereabove, a ofspaced switch-operating rods pivoted to said lever nded through saidplate, a slotted rod for an auxiliary switch disbetween said spacedrods, said plate rig an arm extended outwardly above d coii box, adepending handle pivoted to and connected to said slotted rod, ried byhandle above said slot- .r to engage plate whereto lock said slotted rodreleasably in set n, a switch operating handle pivoted to z and disposedon opposite sides of lever, a tripping iatch carried by said handleinged to engage and loclr said.

lev re e sably to said operating handle, a

latcn c ied by the arm of said plate arranged engage said operatinghandle and lock it releasably in switch-closed position, said latchhaving means by which it is operated by said tripping latch, a trippingplate disposed beneath said tripping latch and the latch governing saidslotted rod and arranged to actuate both, tripodal supporting means forsaid tripping plate, and tripping coils carried in said coil boxarranged to actuate said supporting means and thereby actuate said plateto trip said tripping and governing latches;

32. The combination of a main switch and an auxiliary switch,manually-operable for closing and-opening the main switch,electrically-operated means for opening the main switch, said auxiliaryswitch having operating means by which it is opened when the main switchis closed manually, and is restrained against closing while the mainswitch is in closed position and also when the main switch is openedmanually, said operating means being also arraneed to close theauxiliary switch when the main switch is opened electrically and havingprovision by which the auxiliary switch may be closed manually when mainswitch is in open position.

In testimonywhereof, l have signed my name to this specification.

CHESTER D. AINSWORTH.

